Meyer



Feb. 21, 1956 G. MEYER 2,735,532

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING KEYS OF BUSINESS MACHINES Filed Sept. :50,1954 .Fijl

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EORG P YER BY" Mam fi v APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING KEYS OF BUSINESSMACHINES Georg Meyer, Frankfurt (Main), Germany, assignor to SiemagFeinmechanische Werke G. m. b. 1-1., Eiserfeld (Sieg), GermanyApplication September 30, 1954, Serial No. 459,376

4 Claims. (Cl. 19719) The present invention relates to business machinessuch as typewriters, accounting machines, calculating machines, etc.,and in particular to machines of this type whose keys may be operatedelectrically.

With machines of this type electrical impulses are transmitted inaccordance with certain signals to the machine and the paper carriagethereof moves into position to permit a sheet of paper carried therebyto receive the imprint of a particular type member, this operationtaking place automatically upon energizing of certain solenoids by anelectrical system which transmits the signals. Inasmuch as the movementof the paper carriage under such circumstances is very short andinasmuch as the switches which control the circuits move very quickly,much more quickly than the time required by the type actuating mechanismto move a type carrying member against the paper and back again to itsstarting position, it is essential to provide a control switch whichinterrupts the flow of current to the solenoids which actuate the typekeys as soon as the latter have been actuated, and, in fact, practicallya short period of time before actuation of the typing key and thisswitch should be closed only when the typing mechanism is back in itsstarting position. in other words, operation of the typing keys ofmachines of the above type requires so much more time than operation ofthe other parts of the machine, such as movement of the carriagethereof, that it is essential to provide a means which will guaranteethat the solenoids which actuate the type members and the typing keystherewith are energized for an extremely short period of time and whichguarantees that the circuit to the solenoids will not again be in aposition for energizing the solenoids until the typing mechanisms returnto their starting position.

There have already been attempts to solve the above problem, and amongthe known solutions is, for example, a freely turnable switch operatingmember which may stop in any one of a number of different positions sothat the time required for operating the switch varies depending uponthe particular position in which this witch operated member happens tobe.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above drawbacksby providing a structure of the above type with a switch operatingmember which is always in a predetermined position at the start and endof a cycle of operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch operatingmember of the above type with a means for moving this switch operatingmember positively and quickly back to its starting position.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide astructure of the above type with an adjustable setting which is capableof controlling the moments at which the switch is opened and closed.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to providestructure capable of accomplishing the above objects and at the sametime being made up of simple States Patent 2,735,532 Patented Feb. 21,1956 and ruggedly constructed parts which are very reliable inoperation.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists ofan electrically operable business machine which includes an operatingkey and a linkage means operatively connected to the key. A solenoid isoperatively connected to the linkage means for actuating the key throughthe linkage means when the solenoid is energized. A switch is located inthe circuit of the solenoid, and a switch operating means operativelyengages the switch and linkage means for opening the switch uponmovement of the linkage means when the solenoid is energized and forclosing the switch upon return of the linkage means and key to theirstarting position after tie-energizing of the solenoid upon opening ofthe switch. A means engages the switch operating means to locate thesame in a first predetermined position upon opening of the switch and ina second predetermined position upon closing of the switch.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, partly schematic elevational view of thestructure associated with one operating key, this structure being shownin the position where a switch in the circuit of the key actuatingsolenoid has just been opened;

Fig. 2 illustrates the structure of Fig. 1 immediately after the timewhen the parts have the position shown in Fig. l, in the position theparts take while the switch is maintained open; and

Fig. 3 illustrates the position of the parts of Figs. 1 and 2 at the endof one cycle and at the start of the next cycle, that is, when theswitch in the circuit of the solenoid is closed.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the structure of theinvention includes a support means 2%, parts of which arediagrammatically indicated in the drawings, this support meanssupporting all of the parts shown in the drawings. A solenoid whichincludes a coil 1 and armature 2 is connected at the armature 2 thereofto a linkage means which includes an elongated bar 3 connected at itsleft end, as viewed in the drawings, to the armature 2 and at its rightend to a bell crank lever 4 and to a spring 21 which urges the linkagemeans to its starting position shown in Fig. 3, any suitable stop beingprovided to properly locate the parts in the rest position shown in Fig.3. The bell crank 4 in addition to being pivotally connected to member 3and to the support means 20 is pivotally connected to a link 5 which isin turn pivotally connected to an operating key 6, this operating key 6actuating any known typing mechanism for typing a given character on asheet of paper carried by the carriage of the particular machine. Thus,the elements 3-5 form a linkage means interconnecting the solenoid 1, 2with the operating key 6, and this latter key is actuated uponenergizing of the solenoid through this linkage means.

Electrical signals are transmitted by any suitable known transmitter toenergize the solenoid in a known way not forming part of the presentinvention. For example, teletype machines and the like are commonlyactuated in this manner. A switch 22 is located in the circuit of thesolenoid 1, 2 and this switch 22 includes a springy contact arm 12 whichby its own resiliency tends to move upwardly from the position shown inFig. 3 to that of Fig. l.

A bell crank lever 9, 10 is pivotally carried by the support means 20,and the arm 10 thereof engages the contact member 12 while the arm 9extends alongside of element 3 of the linkage means. A fairly strongspring 11 is connected at one end to arm 9 and at its opposite end tosupport means 20 for urging lever 9, 10 in a clockwise direction, asviewed in the drawings, to the position of Fig. 3.

An angle member 7 forms that part of the linkage means which engages arm9 to transmit movement of the linkage means to the switch operatingmember 9, 10. The member 3 is formed with an elongated slot 8, and athreaded pin extends from one leg of member 7 through the slot 8. A nutengages this threaded pin on the side of member 3 opposite that shown inthe drawings so that after loosening of this nut the position of member7 along member 3 may be adjusted within the limits of slot 8, and thenut may then be tightened to maintain the member in its adjustedposition. The angle member 7 has a leg extending laterally from themember 3 to engage the arm 9 adjacent its top end portion, as viewed inthe drawings.

A catch member 13 is pivotally mounted adjacent its bottom end, asviewed in the drawings, on the support means 2 3 and is urged by arelatively light spring 14, which is much weaker than spring 11, in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in the drawings. As is evidentfrom the drawings, the left edge of member 13, as viewed in thedrawings, is stepped so that a shoulder is provided to move beneath theright free end portion of arm 10 to prevent downward movement of thelatter. The spring 14 is connected at one end to catch 13 and at itsopposite end to the support means 20.

A second angle member 23 is connected to the member 3 for controllingthe catch 13. This angle member 23 has connected thereto a threaded pinextending through a slot 24 for adjustably fixing the position of anglemember 23 on the member 3 in the same way that the position of anglemember 7 is fixed. This angle member 23 has, in addition to its legwhich engages and is located alongside of element 3, a leg extendinglaterally from member 3 to engage the catch 13 adjacent its top endportion.

The above-described structure operates as follows:

Fig. 3 shows the parts in their starting position. Assuming now that asignal has been transmitted to the machine and energizes the solenoid,the coil 1 will pull the armature 2 to the left, as viewed in thedrawings, from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 1. This movementwill cause the member 7 to engage the switch operating member 9, 1i andturn the latter in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in thedrawings, against the action of spring 11, so that arm 16 moves upwardlyand contact member 12 through its own resiliency also moves upwardly andopens the switch 22 which is in the circuit of the solenoid. Thus,energizing of the solenoid actuates the key 6 and the typing mechanismoperated thereby through the linkage 3-5, and at the same time element 7actuates lever 9, 1G to open the circuit to the solenoid an instantafter the solenoid is energized. This is the position which the partshave in Fig. l.

The solenoid being de-energized, the spring 21 is free to return theparts to their starting position. Thus, the structure starts to movefrom the position of Fig. 1 back to that of Fig. 3 and the member '7moves to the right, as viewed in the drawings, to release lever 9, 10 tothe action of spring 11. However, at the instant when the solenoid wasenergized the spring 14 turned the catch 13 to a position where ashoulder thereof is located in the path of movement of the right freeend of arm 10, as viewed in the drawings, so that upon return of theparts toward the position of Fig. 3 the catch 13 engages arm 10 toprevent movement of lever 9, 10 back to its starting position even aftermember 7 moves to the right, as viewed in the drawings, beyond arm 9.The parts are retained in this position, shown in Fig. 2, until member23 engages the catch 13 to turn the latter in a clockwise directionagainst the influence of spring 14 so as to release the lever 9, 10 tothe influence of spring 11. It will be noted that element 23 ispositioned to engage member 13 only at the instant before the parts areback in their starting position so that the switch 22 is maintained openby catch 13 during the period that the parts return to their startingposition. It is only just before the end of the movement of the partsback to their starting position that the catch 13 is turned by element23 away from lever 9, 10 to permit spring 11 to turn this lever to causethe latter to move contact 12 back to its closing position.

Thus, it will be noted that with the structure of the invention apositive opening and closing of the switch is assured at predeterminedpositions of movement of the typing mechanism. The switch operatinglever 9, 10 cannot assume any position intermediate its switch openingand switch closing positions; it is either raised and held in its raisedposition by the catch 13 or it is under the influence of the strongspring 11 to positively hold the switch 22 closed. This latter featureof providing a definite positive force maintaining the switch 22 closedis of great significance for the proper operation of the machine becauseof the relatively low potential under which the machine operates.Furthermore, a particular advantage of the disclosed mechanism residesin the fact that a very light spring is used to operate the catch 13, sothat the spring 21 may also have a very low force. In fact, this spring21 may be omitted and the force derived from falling of type actuatedlevers back to their starting position by gravity may be used to returnthe parts to their starting position and to turn catch 13 against theaction of spring 14.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofbusiness machines diifering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inelectrically operated business machines, it is not intended to belimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of thepresent invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electrically operable business machine, in com bination,support means; an operating key movably carried by said support means;linkage means operatively connected to said key; means carried by saidsupport means for urging said linkage means and key to an inoperativestarting position; a solenoid operatively connected to said linkagemeans for actuating said key through said linkage means when saidsolenoid is energized; a switch located in the circuit of said solenoid;a switch operating member engaging said switch for opening same uponmovement of said switch operating member in one direction and forclosing said switch upon movement of said switch operating member in anopposite direction, said switch operating member being located in thepath of movement of a portion of said linkage means when the latter ismoved upon energizing of said solenoid to be moved by said portion ofsaid linkage means in said one direction to open said switch uponenergizing of said solenoid so as to de-energize said solenoidimmediately after energizing thereof; and releasable catch means carriedby said support means for movement to and from a position engaging saidswitch operating member to prevent movement thereof in said oppositedirection, said catch means being located in the path of movement of aportion of said linkage means during return of said linkage means to itsstarting position after dc-energizing of said solenoid so as to be movedby said linkage means away from said position engaging said switchoperating member to release the latter for movement in said oppositedirection to close said switch.

2. In an electrically operable business machine, in combination, supportmeans; an operating key movably carried by said support means; linkagemeans operatively connected to said key; means carried by said supportmeans for urging said linkage means and key to an inoperative startingposition; a solenoid operatively connected to said linkage means foractuating said key through said linkage means when said solenoid isenergized, said linkage means having a portion movable in one directionupon energizing of said solenoid and in an opposite direction uponde-energizing of said solenoid; a switch located in the circuit of saidsolenoid; a switch operating member movably carried by said supportmeans and located alongside of said portion of said linkage means; firstspring mean urging said switch operating member to a position closingsaid switch; first means extending from said portion of said linkagemeans and engaging said switchoperating member during movement of saidlinkage means upon energizing of said solenoid to move saidswitchoperating member to open said switch; a catch movably carried bysaid support means and located adjacent said switch operating member andsaid portion of said linkage means; second spring means urging saidcatch into engagement with said switch operating member to releasablyprevent movement of the latter to a position closing said switch; andsecond means extending from said portion of said linkage means formovement therewith along a path engaging said catch to move the latteraway from said switch operating member upon movement of said linkagemeans back to its starting position, when said solenoid is de-energized,to release said switch operating member to move said switch back to itsclosed position.

3. In an electrically operable business machine, in combination, supportmeans; an operating key movably carried by said support means; linkagemeans operatively connected to said key; means carried by said supportmeans for urging said linkage means and key to an inoperative startingposition; a solenoid operatively connected to said linkage means foractuating said key through said linkage means when said solenoid isenergized, said linkage means having a portion movable in one directionupon energizing of said solenoid and in an opposite direction uponde-energizing of said solenoid; a switch located in the circuit of saidsolenoid; a switch operating bell crank pivotally carried by saidsupport means, having a first arm engaging said switch to maintain thelatter in a closed position and having a second arm located alongside ofsaid portion of said linkage means; a lug extending from said portion ofsaid linkage means and engaging said second arm of said bell crank toturn the latter in a direction moving said first arm thereof to opensaid switch upon movement of said portion of said linkage means in saidone direction; a catch member pivotally carried by said support meansadjacent an end of said bell crank for engaging said end thereof toprevent movement of said bell crank back to its starting, switchclosingposition; a second lug fixed to said portion of said linkage means andengaging said catch member during movement of said linkage means in saidopposite direction back to its starting position to disengage said catchmember from said bell crank; first spring means engaging said bell crankto urge the latter to a position closing said switch upon movement ofsaid catch member away from said bell crank; and second spring meansweaker than said first spring means and engaging said catch member tourge the latter to a position engaging said bell crank.

4. In an electrically operable business machine, in combination, supportmeans; an operating key movably carried by said support means; linkagemeans operatively connected to said key; means carried by said supportmeans for urging said linkage means and key to an inoperative startingposition; a solenoid operatively connected to said linkage means foractuating said key through said linkage means when said solenoid isenergized, said linkage means having a portion movable in one directionupon energizing of said solenoid and in an opposite direction upondeenergizing of said solenoid; a switch located in the circuit of saidsolenoid; a switch operating bell crank pivotally carried by saidsupport means, having a first arm engaging said switch to maintain thelatter in a closed position and having a second arm located alongside ofsaid portion of said linkage means; a lug extending from said portion ofsaid linkage means and engaging said second arm of said bell crank toturn the latter in a direction moving said first arm thereof to opensaid switch upon movement of said portion of said linkage means in saidone direction; a catch member pivotally carried by said support meansadjacent an end of said bell crank for engaging said end thereof toprevent movement of said bell crank back to its starting, switch-closingposition; a second lug fixed to said portion of said linkage means andengaging said catch member during movement of said linkage means in saidopposite direction back to its starting position to disengage said catchmember from said bell crank; first spring means engaging said bell crankto urge the latter to a position closing said switch upon movement ofsaid catch member away from said bell crank; second spring means weakerthan said first spring means and engaging said catch member to urge thelatter to a position engaging said bell crank; and means for adjustingthe location of said lugs on said linkage means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,753,991 Langford Apr. 8, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 399,586 Great BritainOct. 12, 1933

